Over the years she’d often wondered about River’s life and had frequently wished many things for him. Now she wished just one thing – that he was happy.

*

Maggie didn’t go to the library on Saturday. Her day started like so many had. She took her cup of tea outside, sat on the bench and listened to the birds. She’d taken Rusty and her puppies home last night. Savage had thanked her and Mac had been overjoyed to have his partner in crime back although he was less than sure about the puppies who were overexcited at the change of scenery. Providence Farm was quiet without them. It was quieter still without Tom. She’d have to get used to that.

Maggie fed and watered all the animals but when she got to the lambs she felt a pang in her heart. One of the small males had been mauled in the night. It could have been a fox or a dog. A pretty brazen one too. The ewes must have seen it off or the lamb would be gone. He was lying down with his head bent low and his neck and back bloodied.

Maggie approached him cautiously. ‘Hey there…’ What was his name? She couldn’t remember what Tom had called him. They’d all been given elaborate names from some book he’d read but she couldn’t recall what this little chap was called. ‘Right. Well, I’m afraid we’ll have to contact deed poll because I’m changing your name to Tom.’

The lamb looked up and bleated but it was weak. Barbara wandered over but didn’t intervene when Maggie scooped the lamb into her arms. ‘I’ll do what I can for him,’ she promised Barbara and the sheep gave her a fixed expression while the other lambs frolicked about her like they were wired to the mains.

After a short ride on the quad bike Maggie gave the lamb a quick check over and washed him in warm water in the sink to establish how badly he was injured. Nothing broken, thankfully, but a number of puncture wounds around his neck and back. She dried him off, sprayed the cuts with antibacterial spray and gave him a quick squirt of the vitamin complex she gave newborn lambs. It wouldn’t do him any harm and hopefully would give him a little boost.

Maggie popped an old tea towel in the bottom of the laundry basket and gently lifted him inside. He didn’t object but nor did he settle down. He stood there with his head hanging forlornly. She had formula left over from when she’d had a couple of cade lambs the previous year so she made up a bottle and settled down to give the little lamb a feed.